Adar Poonawalla says SII will try to to launch Omicron-specific vaccine after six months
Serum Institute is working with US biotechnology major Novavax to bring the Omicron-specific vaccine.
New Delhi: The Serum Institute of India will try to launch Omicron-specific vaccine for COVID-19 after six months, its CEO Adar Poonawalla said.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event, he said there is good data available for Covavax vaccine.
"The original Novovax vaccine Covovax covers omicron and there is good data for it. We will try to launch Omicron-specific vaccine after six months," he said.
The Pune-based Serum Institute is working with US biotechnology major Novavax to bring the Omicron-specific vaccine.
Omicron sub-variant of the COVID-19 was declared as a variant of concern by the World Health Organisation due to its fast transmission and infection rate.
Read also: SII, Aspen Pharmacare join hands to manufacture, sell vaccines in Africa
The company's Covavax vaccine is available for those above the age of 12 in the country.
On monkeypox, Poonawalla said the need for a vaccine for is "debatable".
"Yes, it created a little bit of buzz when we saw the cases here. We are conducting research on the topic and can collaborate with the Department of Biotechnology on it too. Our research is going on and we will see in six months," he said.
Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported that Aspen Pharmacare had signed a deal with the Serum Institute of India to manufacture and sell four Aspen-branded vaccines for Africa.
Read also: SII conducting research to find vaccine against Monkeypox, says Adar Poonawalla
Serum Institute of India is an Indian biotechnology and biopharmaceuticals company headquartered in Pune, India. The company was founded by Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla in 1966. It is now the world's largest vaccine manufacturer by number of doses produced and sold globally (more than 1.5 billion doses) which includes Polio vaccine, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Hib, BCG, r-Hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps, Rubella as well as Pneumococcal and Covid-19 vaccines.
